The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Dennis Michael Storm (MCSN: 0-106094), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company G, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the evening of 15 May 1969, while two platoons of Company G were engaged in a search and destroy operation in Quang Nam Province, the Marines came under a heavy volume of small arms and automatic weapons fire from a large North Vietnamese Army force occupying well-entrenched emplacements in parallel tree lines on both flanks of the friendly unit. Unhesitatingly seizing the initiative, Second Lieutenant Storm led his platoon in an aggressive assault on the hostile positions and sustained numerous casualties. Unwilling to risk excessive Marine injuries, he withdrew his men to a more tenable location and, when the remainder of the company deployed to the rear to enable the utilization of supporting artillery fire, one of his squads was cut off and pinned down by the enemy fire. Realizing the vulnerability of his men, and fearing for their lives, Second Lieutenant Storm mustered a small group of Marines and led them across the fire-swept terrain to the beleaguered squad. Then, pinpointing a major source of North Vietnamese fire, he boldly assaulted and destroyed the position, thereby enabling his entire squad to maneuver back to the friendly lines. When the hostile unit attempted to overrun the Marine emplacements, he completely disregarded his own safety as he moved from one fighting position to another, exhorting his men to maximum combat effort and directing their suppressive fire on the advancing enemy soldiers, thereby forcing them back into the artillery barrage. Observing that helicopter gunships and fixed wing aircraft had arrived on station, Second Lieutenant Storm fearlessly moved forward of the defensive perimeter and marked enemy positions with smoke grenades. With the arrival of re-supply helicopters, he boldly exposed himself to hostile fire as he stood up and utilized a flashlight to guide the aircraft into the landing zone. His heroic and daring actions inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in minimizing Marine casualties. By his courage, aggressive leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Second Lieutenant Storm upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.